It's near the exit. And I think it used to be a rubbish tip once up on a time.
In 1897 towns throughout NZ commemorated the year of Queen Victoria's Jubilee by doing work that would benefit to the town and remain a permanent mark of respect to the memory of the Queen. Timaru's effort was the Jubilee Water Fountain outside the old Timaru Post Office on Perth St and George Place opposite the Timaru District Council.
"Erected to commemorate the fiftieth year of the reign of Queen Victoria.
W.F.D. Jervious, K.C.M.C.,
Governor.
Moss Jonas, Esquire.
Mayor of Timaru.
21st June MDCCCLXXXVII
E.H. Lough, Town Clerk
Residents do benefit from living adjacent to public gardens."
In 1960, The Queen Victoria Garden Fountain, (which was originally located in front of the Timaru District Council Building) in the triangle traffic island, was later moved to the Gardens.
Fun fact, The base is made of bluestone by Mr Jones. The fountain is made of Peterhead granite, which comes from Stirlinghill, near Boddam, Aberdeenshire. The same stone was used for the Benvenue memorial, St Mary's columns and headstones at the cemetery.
The lower base has "dogs troughs" and higher up are four drinking basins. the basins are formed of dark grey Rubislaw granite. Gas and water pipes ran inside to power a light at the top and "issue water from bronze lion heads"
Timaru's postal service dates back to the late 1850s when a postal service was begun under the control of Belfield Woollcombe, resident magistrate. The service was then moved to John Beswick's store on lower George Street where it operated until a new post office was built further up George Street and opened in 1864.
Image from Te Papa: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/216962
